Williamsport Airman Missing Since World War II Identified and Returning Home

Michelle AbbeyMIAs, MIAs Accounted For, News, Repatriations Leave a Comment

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has publicly announced that they have positively identified the remains of Staff Sergeant John H. Danneker, who had been missing in action since 1944. Danneker entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The initial survey and the recovery projects leading up to these identifications were completed in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field. Danneker was a waist gunner assigned to the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 2nd …

DPAA Accounts for LT Jay R. Manown, Jr.

Michelle AbbeyMIAs, News, Repatriations 1 Comment

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that, in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field, they accounted for LT Jay R. Manown, Jr. LT Manown was a TBM-1c Avenger pilot who, until this announcement, was Missing in Action. Project Recover located the downed Avenger in Palauan waters in 2015.  The Avenger took off from the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier on September 10, 1944. The crew was part of Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20), which was on a …

DPAA Accounts for ARM1c Wilbur A. Mitts

Lauren TrecostaMIAs, News, Repatriations 10 Comments

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that, in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field, they accounted for ARM1c Wilbur A. Mitts. ARM1c Mitts was a radioman on a TBM-1c Avenger who, until this announcement, was Missing in Action from World War II. Project Recover located and documented Mitts’ downed Avenger in Palauan waters in 2015. In partnership with DPAA, Project Recover recovered MIAs from the Avenger during our first MIA Recovery Mission in 2021. The …

Lt. William Q. Punnell Flag ceremony over his airplane wreck in Palau. Project Recover is committed to bringing the MIA home.

MIA Lt. William Q. Punnell located by Project Recover to be buried May 2

Lauren TrecostaMIAs, Repatriations 4 Comments

April 27, 2018 – MIA Lt. William Q. Punnell located by Project Recover will be buried May 2nd On May 2, 2018 Navy Reserve Lt. William Q. Punnell, 27, of Flandreau, South Dakota will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. On July 25, 1944 four divisions (16 aircraft) of F6F-3 Hellcat fighters led by Lt. Punnell, took off from the USS Wasp aircraft carrier on a fighter sweep against targets throughout the islands of the Republic …